From best to worst for Bradford in heavy defeat to MK Dons

Bradford City went from their best to their worst performance of the season when they soundly beaten by MK Dons on Tuesday night, according to interim manager Kevin McDonald.

The 34-year-old picked himself for the first time since taking over at the helm earlier this month, and after what he felt was the Bantams’ best outing of the season during the 1-1 draw with Wrexham on Saturday, came crashing back to earth at Stadium MK.

Trailing after just four minutes to Joe Tomlinson’s first goal for the club, Bradford drew level through Alex Gilliead’s goal on 16 minutes, though it was as good as it got for the visitors. Jack Payne’s rocket made it 2-1 on the half-hour, before second-half goals from Max Dean and Alex Gilbey secured the win, but in truth it could have been far more.

Dons hit the woodwork four times and squandered a few one-on-ones too, with Tomlinson claiming Dons should have scored eight on the night.

And given the difference between the sides at Stadium MK, McDonald admitted it went from best to worst for Bradford.

“We’ve had a high from the weekend and from a few games,” he said. “Saturday was our best game and this was our worst.

“We’ve got to look at the reasons why but there are no excuses because of Saturday.

“These guys in there are fit and we need to get fitter. We’ve said this all along.

“In a game like that, when you allow it to go the way it did, it makes everyone look leggy. The distances were huge between us and we were caught out numerous times.

“That’s hard going. We’ve got to stay in shape because they are a good football team.

“They will have enjoyed themselves – it would have been the same if that had been us. They’re a good footballing team with different ideas.

“The goals killed us at bad times as well and they had even more chances. We can’t afford to give away that many.

“On another day they would have scored more goals and then it would have been a real problem.”